What are your favorite sounds of the season past and present?

Do certain sounds of the season evoke fond memories from another time? Perhaps they signal the beginning of the holiday season?

When I was growing up, if my mother pulled out her 33 RPM record with Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song, I knew Santa was soon to be on his way. Hearing the clink of ribbon candy hitting the bottom of her Depression-era glass candy dishes meant she had finally completed the last measure of preparation and decorating. Later on, we would hear the sound of the tension springs on the oven door as she pulled delectable goodies from the oven.

Here are some sounds of the season that are special to me, past and present:

Hearing the organist at Radio City Music Hall play holiday tunes

The sound of heavy, crunchy snow under my boots

Hearing someone feverishly ripping off wrapping paper and hearing in their voice how happy you made them for picking out something special

Playing Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano over and over because it’s a feel-good tune

Ditto for Brenda Lee’s Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

Hearing the Salvation Army ring their bell and knowing there are still good people who take the time to care about the downtrodden

Hearing my grandson sing Jingle Bells with his Pre-K class with enthusiasm– children are the ray of hope for the world

Taking the time to go see The Nutcracker, and enjoying the music

Bumping into someone dear while shopping, and having a special catch-up chat

Staying up until midnight on December 31 to hear 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1…Happy New Year! and watching people all over the world celebrate new beginnings

The clink of two glasses toasting and celebrating all that was and all that we hope for in the coming year

What are some of your favorite sounds of the season? I’d love to hear from you!

May you have reasons to enjoy the season. Here’s wishing you hope, peace, joy and many reasons to feel gratitude.

2 thoughts on “What are your favorite sounds of the season past and present?”

Favorite sounds change as you realize that some of them are slipping away. I still adore the Carol of the Bells by the Vienna Boys Choir and the sounds of hustle and bustle of shoppers at night. I like the sound of Candy Cane Lane where people walk and drivers turn of their headlights and drive slowly so as to enjoy the displays of lights and music. I love the sound of a fire but no longer have a fireplace and the sound of each of my kids greeting me with a different name that they have picked and used for me many years now.